Wideband low frequency radiometer: PolarRad

Completed TRL 6 (started at 5, targeting 6)

Description

We propose to develop a wideband radiometer that would operate at P- and L-band frequencies. Experiments have shown the utility of brightness temperature measurements from 500-1400 MHz for enabling sea ice thickness to greater thicknesses, sensing of temperature information deep within ice sheets, improved sensing of sea salinity in cold waters, and enhanced sensitivity to soil moisture under vegetation canopies. This IRAD supported the development of the low frequency wideband radiometer for a future Earth Science mission.

Benefits

PolarRad (low frequency wide band radiometer) will (a) measure temperature profiles inside the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets (which currently can only be measured by drilling boreholes), (b) improve the sensing of sea ice thickness in the crucial 50-200 cm range that is poorly measured by current methods, (c) measure ocean salinity, which is not currently able to be measured precisely in cold water, (a) provide new measurements to elucidate the complex feedback mechanisms coupling ice sheet evolution, sea ice dynamics, and freshening of the polar oceans.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Microwave, Millimeter Waves, and Submillimeter Waves
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Julia W Breed — julia.w.breed@nasa.gov
Matt Mcgill — Matthew.J.McGill@nasa.gov
Rajat Bindlish — rajat.bindlish@nasa.gov
David M Le Vine — david.m.levine@nasa.gov
Jeffrey R Piepmeier — jeffrey.r.piepmeier@nasa.gov
Joel Johnson — joel.johnson@nasa.gov
Lihua Li — lihua.li@nasa.gov
Ludovic Brucker — ludovic.brucker@nasa.gov
Matthew G Kowalewski — matthew.g.kowalewski@nasa.gov
Matthew L Walker Mclinden — matthew.l.mclinden@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.